The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is a high-horsepower tire-scorcher, with a modified suspension and steering for better on-road handling as well. The Grand Cherokee SRT8 has a potent Hemi V8 engine. “SRT” stands for Street and Racing Technology, along the lines of AMG models from Mercedes-Benz, or M Power variants from BMW. The term Hemi denotes the hemispherical shape of the engine's combustion chambers.
Jeep completely redesigned the Grand Cherokee for the 2005 model year. The SRT8 variant debuted for the 2006 model year. There are only a few updates since then, including rearview backup camera bundled with the optional navigation system, plus a remote starter feature that is also included with a package of options.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 offers a lot of performance for the money versus high-powered competition from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Land Rover. The SRT8 isn’t even the most expensive model in the Grand Cherokee lineup. That distinction goes to the opulently equipped Overland version.
The SRT8 follows one of Detroit’s most successful formulas: Cram as large an engine as possible under the hood of an otherwise unassuming family vehicle, and add other performance upgrades that imbue sports car capabilities.
The 6.1-liter Hemi V8 engine in the Grand Cherokee SRT8 generates an explosive 420 hp and a tire-burning 420 pound-feet of torque. This powerplant can propel the vehicle to 60 mph from a standstill in just under 5 seconds, which puts it in the heady company of some sports cars, to say nothing of how it compares with regular SUVs.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 has a five-speed automatic transmission that includes a manual shift function. This gearbox, the chassis and the full-time four-wheel-drive system have been tweaked to handle the added power. Under normal driving conditions, the 4WD system channels 90-95 percent of the engine’s power to the rear wheels, but the system can send as much power as needed to the front axle when additional traction is required. This system is geared more toward on-road driving than off-road. |
